Portable storage reel for lines

ABSTRACT

A manually operable portable reel for storing lines, such as water ski tow lines, in a boat when the lines are not in use. A reel is rotatably secured on a support frame or handle unit which may be easily held in one hand while winding or unwinding of the line or cable, and having means for facilitating guiding of the line during the spooling or unspooling operation.

[54] PORTABLE STORAGE REEL FOR United; States Patent Wheeler LINES [76] Inventor: Clayton E. Wheeler, 9125 East Latimer Court, Tulsa, Okla. 74115 [22] Filed: Mar. 8, 1971 211 App]. No.: 121,996

[52] 11.8. CI ..242/96 [51 Int. Cl. ..B65h 75/40 [58 Field of Search ..242/96, 94, 100, 242/843, 84.4],113, 125.1, 86.5 A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,135,831 11/1938 Nilsen ..242/125.1 X 3,498,563 3/1970 Palmieri 242/865 A 664,640 12/1900 Huebner ..242/96 [4 1 May 8,1973

654,337 7/1900 Yeatman ....242/10O 3,423,044 1/1969 Beiderwell.... ....242/96 3,313,498 4/1967 Wasson i. ....242/96 285,630 9/1883 Kasschau... ....242/96 850,236 4/1907 Maguire ....242/96 1,982,042 11/1934 Basler ..242/96 Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Mautz 7 Assistant ExaminerEdward J McCarthy Attorney-William S. Dorman [57] 1 ABSTRACT A manually operable portable reel for storing lines, such as water ski tow lines, in a. boat when the lines are not in use. A reel is rotatably secured on a support frame or handle unit which may be easily held in one hand while winding or unwinding of the line-or cable, and having means for facilitating guiding of the line during the spooling or unspooling, operation.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3,731,887

CLAYTON E. WHEELER INVENTOF?v ATTORNEY PORTABLE STORAGE REEL FOR LINES This invention relates to improvements in reels and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a portable storage reel for storing cables or lines used in connection with boats and the like.

There are many lines or cables used in connection boats and the like that are usually not connected physically with the boat structure and which may become entangled or lost when not in use, such as water-ski tow lines, boat anchor lines, trout lines, or the like. The present invention contemplates a novel portable reel for storing lines of this type when not in use and generally comprises a substantially Urshaped frame having a storage reel rotatably mounted thereon. The frame also provides a handle for manipulation of the device and is provided with means for facilitating the winding and unwinding of the line or cable with respect to the reel. In addition, means is provided on the reel for releasably engaging one end of the line to facilitate maintaining the line on the reel during a winding operation and permitting a complete release of the line when the line is unspooled therefrom for use.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a portable reel for the storage of lines or cable such as utilized withboats and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel portable reel for storage or ropes, lines and the like, which is particularly designed and constructed for each of manual operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel portable reel for lines wherein the spooling and unspooling of the line is guided to facilitate the winding and unwinding operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel reel for cables, and the like, wherein one end of the cable may be engaged during a spooling operation and completely released upon unspooling of the line for use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel portable storage reel for lines which is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable reel for lines embodying the invention. I

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of areel for lines embodying the invention, with portions thereof depicted in section for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character generally indicates a line storage reel comprising a support frame 12 having a reel 14 rotatably secured thereto. The support frame 12 is preferably constructed from a substantially flat straplike member suitable formed in a substantially U- shaped configuration. The frame 12 comprises a main frame portion 16 having a flange 18 extending outwardly at right angles or substantially perpendicularly from one end thereof and an L-shaped handle portion 20 provided at the opposite end thereof. The L-shaped handle portion 20 is preferably provided with a pair of hand grip members 22 and 24 secured to the opposite sides thereof and extending outwardly in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the reel 14, and preferably substantially centrally disposed with respect to the axis of the reel. The main frame portion 16 is provided with a substantially conical shaped recess portion 26 for facilitating mounting of the reel 14 on the frame 12 in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth. In addition, the flange 18 is provided with an elongated slot 28 spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the reel 14, and having a transverse opening 30 provided in the flange 18 for access to the slot 28 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

The reel 14 comprises a pair of spaced substantially conical shaped identical but oppositely disposed side plates 32 and 34 having substantially flat annular outer peripheries as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The side plates or flanges 32 and 34 are spaced apart by a sleeve or core 36 having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores or passageways 33 extending therethrough and a central bore 36 also extending therethrough as particularly shown in FIG. 2. Whereas the sleeve or core 36 is depicted herein as being integral with the flanges 32 and 34, it will be apparent that the sleeve 36 may be an independent member suitably secured between the flanges 32 and 34, if desired. A knob 38 is suitably secured to the outer surface of the annular-periphery of one of the flanges, for example the flange 34 as shown in FIG. 2 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. In addition, a bail member 40 is disposed between the flanges 32 and 34 and is pivotally secured in aligned bores 42 and 44 provided in the flanges 32 and 34, respectively.

The reel 14 is disposed on the frame 12 in such a manner that one of the flanges, such as the flange 32 is disposed in substantial alignment with the conical recess 26 of the main frame portion 16 as clearly shown in FIG. 2. A centrally disposed aperture 46 is provided in the recess 26 in substantial alignment with the inner bore 35 whereby a bolt or stud 48 may be inserted through the bore 35 and aperture 46 to provide a pivot shaft for the reel 14. The bolt 48 may be secured in position by a suitable lock nut 50, asis well known.

When a cable or line (not shown) such as a water ski tow rope, or the like, is not in use and it is desirable to store the line, one end of the line may be removably fastened to the bail 40. It is to be noted that one end of such a rope or line is frequently provided with a snap or clip member (not shown), and this clip member may be readily snapped onto the bail 40 in the usual manner as is well known. The handle 20, and particularly the grip members 22 and 24 thereof may be grasped by one hand, and the knob 38 maybe grasped by the other hand in order to rotate the reel 14 about the shaft 48. As the reel 14 is rotated, the line or cable will wind between the flanges 32 and 34 and around the sleeve or core 36. As the cable or linewindsonto the sleeve 36 the bail member 40 will pivot into a position substantially adjacent to the sleeve and will not interfere with the spooling or winding operation.

Subsequent to engaging the end of the rope onto the bail 40, it ispreferable to pass the adjacent rope portion through the opening 30 and place the rope in the slot 28. This facilitates the winding of the line onto the reel 14 by guiding the rope and substantially precluding entangling of the rope during the winding operation.

When the entire length of rope has been spooled or wound onto the reel 14, the full reel may be stored in any convenient place or manner until the rope is needed for further use. Of course, it is to be noted that the outer or free end of the rope may be knotted or locked around an adjacent wind of the rope or otherwise locked in order to preclude accidental unwinding of the cable from the reel during periods of storage.

When the rope is to be used again, the free end thereof may be pulled manually for unwinding the rope from the reel 14. When the entire length of line has been removed or pulled from the reel 14, the innermost end of the rope may be disengaged from the bail 40 in order that the rope may be completely separated from any connection whatsoever for freedom of use.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel portable storage reel for lines or cable, such as water ski tow ropes, or the like, wherein the line may be quickly and easily spooled onto the reel for storage and readily removed from the reel for use. One end of the line to be stored may be engaged with a bail member provided on the reel, and the reel may be easily manually rotated with one hand while being supported by the other hand for winding the line onto the reel. The line may then be stored on the reel until such time as it is desired to use the line. The rope or line may then be unspooled from the reel and completely removed therefrom for the desired use.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable storage reel for lines comprising a substantially U-shaped support frame means, a line receiving reel rotatably secured to the support frame, bail means pivotally carried by the reel for releasably receiving one end of the line, and handle means provided on said support frame means for facilitating manipulation of the storage reel, said line receiving reel comprising a pair of spaced inwardly extending substantially conical side plates for guiding the line toward the center of the reel, sleeve means interposed between the side plates for facilitating securing of the reel to the support frame means, and bolt means extending through-the sleeve means for securing the reel to the support frame means and providing a pivotal shaft for the reel.

2. A portable storage reel for lines as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base member of the support frame means is provided with a substantially conical shaped recess complementary to the configuration of the side plates of the reel for receiving the reel in the proximity thereof.

3. A portable storage reel for lines as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleeve means comprises a pair of concentrically arranged sleeves, one of said sleeves receiving said bolt therethrough, and the other of said sleeves providing a core for the reel for receiving the line therearound.

4. A portable storage reel for lines as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bail means is disposed between and pivotally secured to the conical side plates adjacent to the sleeve providin a core for the reel whereby upon operation of the ree for receiving the line therearound,

the said bail means will pivot in an opposite direction to that of the reel to a position adjacent to the sleeve which provides a core for the reel. 

1. A portable storage reel for lines comprising a substantially U-shaped support frame means, a line receiving reel rotatably secured to the support frame, bail means pivotally carried by the reel for releasably receiving one end of the line, and handle means provided on said support frame means for facilitating manipulation of the storage reel, said line receiving reel comprising a pair of spaced inwardly extending substantially conical side plates for guiding the line toward the center of the reel, sleeve means interposed between the side plates for facilitating securing of the reel to the support frame means, and bolt means extending through the sleeve means for securing the reel to the support frame means and providing a pivotal shaft for the reel.
 2. A portable storage reel for lines as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base member of the support frame means is provided with a substantially conical shaped recess complementary to the configuration of the side plates of the reel for receiving the reel in the proximity thereof.
 3. A portable storage reel for lines as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleeve means comprises a pair of concentrically arranged sleeves, one of said sleeves receiving said bolt therethrough, and the other of said sleeves providing a core for the reel for receiving the line therearound.
 4. A portable storage reel for lines as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bail means is disposed between and pivotally secured to the conical side plates adjacent to the sleeve providing a core for the reel whereby upon operation of the reel for receiving the line therearound, the said bail means will pivot in an opposite direction to that of the reel to a position adjacent to the sleeve which provides a core for the reel. 